Even as he emerged as valedictorian of this year’s graduating class of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), Jhon Felix Pascual Jr. is not giving up the dream he has held since he was a child. “If given an opportunity, I still want to pursue my dream of becoming a medical doctor,” said the 21-year-old son of retired policeman Felix and public school teacher Shirley from Iguig, Cagayan.

Pascual and the rest of the 269-member “Tagapamagitan” Class of 2013 graduated on Friday at Camp General Mariano N. Castañeda in Silang, Cavite.

Pascual took up medical technology as a premed course at Cagayan State University. He, however, bailed out of school after a year due to his father’s prodding.

“It’s not that they could not support my college education anymore but my father said joining the PNPA would secure my future. I’ve always believed parents want only the best for their children,” he said. Pascual is the younger of two children.

He admitted he was not initially sold on the idea of joining the police academy but changed his mind when his application was rejected the first time after failing the dental exam because of a slight malocclusion.

“I remembered my father cried then. I promised myself I would not fail him again,” he said.

For a month, Pascual and his father stayed with a relative in Manila to follow up his application. They were back in Cagayan when news reached him that his application was reconsidered.

“People back in our place thought I would not make it through the training,” said Pascual, who, as a teen, followed a home-school-church routine.

He was never active in sports and rarely went out with friends, spending most of his time helping in their parish as an altar boy.

His town’s parish priest, whom he only remembered as “Father Langcay,” became his inspiration, an elder he respected and one who he would always be grateful to for helping mold the person he has become.

“I admired his passion and sacrifices. He would travel far even when he was sick to bring services to the people,” said Pascual of the priest.

Pascual requested to be assigned in Western Visayas, “where I do not know anyone, not even their language.” He believed being in an unfamiliar place would give him “an opportunity to learn and grow.”

He said he wished to pursue medicine and someday serve both as a police officer and doctor. After all, he added, their class’ name suggested what they hoped to become: “the mediators between law enforcers and the community.”

“We cannot promise change right away but we promise to bring back the trust and credibility in the PNP. We promise the taxpayers that their money spent on our education is not put to waste,” he said.

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$5699914

Congratulation!
I do hope that the new breeds of policemen will go back to the tradition of service to society on top of everything else.

speedstream2

Not to rain on anyone’s parade, but similar promises have been made long before you were even born, and where are we now? Still, in the spirit of cautious optimism and faith in one’s fellowmen, a promise is a promise. Can we hold you to your word?

Loggnat

Why ask if we can? We will expect him to keep his word and promise to exert all humanly possible effort to bring back the people’s trust to PNP. No more, no less!

Hey hey hey..careful now top grads! You don’t want to be taking a page from PNoy’s book by making promises that you can’t keep. If you wish to bring back trust then just do it…you need not make a big proclamation on what you will do. If you what to make a bold statement of some sort, maybe make it after you’ve accomplished bringing back the trust.

wangad onlee

CONGRATS officer insp pascual. we pray that you be instrumental in the changing of the pnp image. i still believe that majority of our police force are honest, dedicated and hardworking. however, there are few out there (in all ranks) who stain the pnp image and to many pinoys they seem to be the majority because indeed they amaze the majority of the kurakot. again more power to you and your batchmates ‘Tagapamagitan’ and you may all have the strength to initiate a change for the good image…go ahead mistah officer make our day…a happy and peaceful one.

Akoaykanoy

Congratulations Insp John Pascual follow my footstep I have been a Cop with the Pasay City Police Dept for 13 years but I was not a crooked cop until I migrated to US (chicago) with a clean record and I’m proud of myself and my 2 daugthers finish college with my blood money.

Mux

You were not a crooked cop until you migrated to the US, so that means you are a crooked cop now? Your daughters finished college with your blood money… that means money earned by killing people. I sure hope you get your metaphors straight.